The Monkeys of the Rock of Gibraltar Ernest and the Barbary Macaques of Gibraltar For the last fifty years, Ernest has cared for this tribe of tail-less rock apes. Copic marker sketch of a Gibraltar Barbary Macaque. This small population of Barbary Macaques are often referred to as Rock Apes, but they are actually a species Old World monkeys. For the last fifty years, Ernest has cared for this tribe of tail-less rock apes. The apes are not exactly apes. They are monkeys - tail-less macaques, origin Morocco. Nobody knows exactly how they arrived on the peninsula, although theories abound. Many say they were brought here by Arab or Berber pirates in the fourteenth century. Others insist they were a tribe from the Baltic, pushed back to the edge of Europe by the Ice Age. Some have more unusual explanations. In 1920, a journalist for the London Daily Mail wrote, "Well-known monkeys are absent for months, and then reappear with new, strange, adult monkeys of a similar breed.

Those who know Gibraltar will agree that there is not a square yard on the Rock where they could have hidden." The author insisted that the only explanation was a submarine tunnel underneath the Mediterranean, connecting the African dens to Gibraltar. As Gibraltar is simply a large rock (two square miles of Jurassic limestone) - a British colony on the Southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula - everybody, the monkeys included, are in close proximity. Squished together, hugging the steep cliffsides. The monkeys have hands remarkably like humans, but their behavior is much more monkeylike. "You think their hands would be rough like dog paws," Jane says. "But it's like holding a human hand. They are like baby hands." Ernest, who cares for the monkeys of Gibraltar. Ernest invites us to his shaded hut. His accent is more international than the other Gibraltarians we meet. Their English is perhaps the strangest on Earth, sounding sinister, Cockney and Spanish, Arabic and cartoonish all at once.

When a bartender at one of the dozens of fish and chips parlours says, 'You want two lagers?', it comes out like this: "Yeh whan twah walagas?" Ernest gives his own explanation for the origin of the monkeys, "They were brought over here in the year 1311 by Arabs. This was an outpost for them at the time. In 1704, when the British first came to Gibraltar, there were only 11 or 12 monkeys on the peninsula. The British Consul wanted to increase their number. Slowly they were cared for and reared by the military " “So you’ve seen a lot of change?” Jane asks Ernest. “Yes, you could say this. When the Germans were expected to come into Gibraltar and bomb, I was eight years old, and the women and children were evacuated.” “So did the Germans ever actually bomb Gibraltar?” I ask. The notion seems absurd, but then the whole point of this rock is its role as a British garrison; a naval foothold in the Mediterranean. “Oh yes. The Germans and Italians.” “Where did you go?” Jane asks.

“11,000 of us were evacuated to Britain, and 4,000 to Jamaica. I spent four years in Jamaica." "And how did you start taking care of the monkeys?" I ask. "I was a private in the army," Ernest says. "In Gibraltar, you do your duty starting at age eighteen. I would come up here and help name the monkeys and look after them...Now I have been with the monkeys since nineteen-fifty-four." "So the Government of Gibraltar officially takes care of them?" Jane asks. “Oh yes. They are given immunizations and each are named and catalogued. We also feed them and give them medical examiniations. In the old days, the army doctors brought them in for treatment, and examined them one by one." Caring for the monkeys is not all tourism and show. It is perhaps vital for the people of Gibraltar. Spain - which itself stubbornly refuses to give up its stake in two chunks of the Moroccan mainland, insists that Gibraltar is rightfully Spanish. I ask, "What do you think will happen to Gibraltar in the long run?” "In two weeks, our foreign ministers are meeting.

The foreign minister of Britain is going to Spain and they are expected to make some progress on the subject of our sovereignty. The thing is that we want to be at peace with the Spanish. If the British ever leave, we don't want to go to Spain. We want to be our own people. We will not be ruled by Spain! We are our own nationality. Everybody on Gibraltar believes in our autonomy. We like the British but if they leave we want to be a sovereign state." "Isn't it true," I say, "that nobody has ever found an ape skeleton on the peninsula?" Ernest folds his arms and grasps his chin. "Yes, this is true," he says. "Maybe when they go down the cliffs at night they climb into a big hole, and when they think they are going to die, they just stay there. It is believed that the apes created a giant underground burial site, maybe there is a cave. In the nineteen-fifties, there was a very special monkey to the British soldiers. He was called Jocko, and he was very large.

When he died they wanted to find his body for a proper burial, and so they looked all over the cliffs but they never found him." Sketch of the Rock of Gibraltar. I used Copic markers and Sakura Micron liner pens. The Barbary Macaque monkeys, the only wild monkeys in Europe, live in five populations in the upper rocks of Gibraltar. "But how hard can it be to find a hole in the ground, you would think somebody would try to find it." I say. "Believe it, people are looking for the burial site all the time," he says. Although Gibraltar is tiny, most of it is dense scrub-trees on bare, steep rock. Human exploration of much of the rock is impossible, even by an experienced climbing team. "Okay," I ask, "what would happen if all the apes of Gibraltar perish?" "Yes," Ernest says. "This is the myth that we have here in Gibraltar. They say that if the apes no longer exist, then the control of the Rock will go from Britain to Spain. But I think this will not happen.

The apes will thrive." This myth has existed since the Spanish began making a series of military bungles against the British on the Rock in an attempt to seize what they could never keep even from the Moors. The Spanish finally resorted to the statement that when the monkeys perish, the British will lose Gibraltar. When the ape population dwindled to about seven individuals near the end of World War II, Sir Winston Churchhill ordered a replenishment from Morocco. In a speech, he said that Gibraltar will remain British as long as the apes shall live. Ernest pauses to fumble with his pack of Dunhill Filters. His perch is a small painted shack. Like all the rest of Gibraltar's human community below us, it is compact and built tightly against the cliff. His view is the best in all of Gibraltar - a view of a great harbor, a city and the Iberian mainland beyond. It is glorious and vaguely tropical. To his back is Africa, to his front the nation that wants him speaking Spanish. "The fact is, there are now up to five tribes in Gibraltar. The monkey populations are growing and the people are committed to their survival.

Five tribes, that's three hundred apes." "So there is a lot of weight on your shoulders to keep them alive?" "Yes, yes." He carries no modesty or pride with this statement. It is simply a fact. He must care for the monkeys lest Gibraltar goes the way of Hong Kong. It's a big responsibility. Gibraltar was an essential military component in the defense against Napolean. It is thought that without its strategic location, the British Isles would now be French. It was important even in the Falkland's War. So important that the Argentines attempted to blow the whole harbor up by sneaking bomb-clad divers into Spain. When all England's Falkland ships would be refueling in port, the diver's would slip into the sea, creating Pearl Harbor II. Spain uncovered and foiled the plot. Gibraltar was known in Roman times, along with a mountain on the African coast - called back then the Mountain of Apes - as the physical end of the world. Beyond these Straits of Gibraltar swam the dragons and demons of the Atlantic. Later I say to Jane. "That has to be the best job in the world.

Get to sit in the sun, meet people from all over the world, and play with monkeys all day." "Great for him, maybe." Jane says. Almost as if I was suggesting we give up our careers and join Ernest. An overfed lady is feeding one monkey a ham and cheese sandwich. The apes do not do well with the food that humans offer them. The signs are everywhere. Do Not Feed the Apes. The reasons are apparent. This human food is overprocessed. A ham and cheese sandwich will make the monkey die of obesity. Obesity from junk food has become the leading killer of the apes on Gibraltar. The monkeys are notorious thieves, and one medium-sized male snatches the plastic-bagged sandwich from the overfed lady, startling her into a scream. The monkey drops the sandwich and the lady snatches it back, poking it at the monkey's face until he grabs it again. This act happens every single day on Gibraltar. There is only one answer – please keep that sandwich to yourself. The thing about this ham and cheese sandwich is that it came out of a plastic bag. The ham is not the kind of cured delicacy that abounds in Portugal and Spain. It comes from a factory paste.

And the cheese is outsourced, a white block oozing oil in the sun. It is the kind of sandwich you get from a vending machine. The kind that makes a thud when it drops. As Jane and I are traveling the world in search of the finest artisanal cheeses on Earth, I thought this ham and cheese sandwich would make a good conversation point for the point of defining good and bad cheese. At home, cheese is ever-present. It is slathered on burritos, thick on pizzas, oozing in commercial pasta dishes. Some back-home friends are adamant about non-fat, low calorie cheese that comes in individually-wrapped containers. Bland chalky cheese from big corporations like Kraft. Processed cheese, which is really more a 'cheese food' or a 'cheese sauce', is filled with preservatives and artificial fats and artificial flavoring, shipped in big containers and bumped around by the pressures of modern industry. The ingredient buyers scour the world for cost-cutting schemes, looking to make every ingredient as cost-efficient as possible. The habits of people in industrialized countries are changing along with the big companies that wish it that way.

Restaurants and markets and farmhouse products were once more often distinguishable from others, and distinct cheese manufacturers existed around the world in the hundreds of thousands. Today we are habituated to the idea of standardization in our products. We want consistency. Whether we're in Chicago or New York or Miami, we want to be able to buy our coffee or a taco or an individually-wrapped cheese and have it taste identical to what we know. Standardization is comforting, but in the process we lose vital culture. The homogenization of modern food is putting our cultural traditions at the risk of extinction. Cultural cuisine traditions that evolved over thousands of years. What is happening to our food traditions is like having a very large bookshelf, filled with an improbable combination of volumes, about unimaginably interesting subjects. And one day, you wake to find the bookshelf composed entirely of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code and David Grisham's The Pelican Brief. The idea of food as art, the idea of regional specialty. The idea of tradition and constant invention. The idea of food as exploration. But to suggest that real cheese is a vital component of human culture can be deemed snobbish.

What is culture anyway, and does anybody have the right to suggest what is and isn't? Culture is that barrier man has built for himself against the chaos of nature. It is the weeded garden, the composed yard, the hybridized specimens growing in the sun. It is the good things in humanity that separates us from the monkeys. It is tradition and dynamic invention. A tug of war between old ideas and new ones. When humans reject part of that balance between the old and new, they flounder. Their so-called gardens become filled with weeds. Culture can only be defined by healthy societies over time. One thing you often hear from Americans on the subject of Europe is this statement: "They have more culture there." The statement is nonsense, because old buildings have nothing to do with culture. Culture is created by the choices that people make in the present. This modern conflict is a circumstance St. Deuberex Montclair could never have predicted. In 1910 when he wrote his 'Cheese Travels', processed cheese had not yet been invented. At the same time, Montclair would not have imagined the incredible progress in new artisanal cheeses from Vermont, California, New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. Small farmhouse cheeses, complete new inventions.

However, the five cheeses that lay to our north were lauded by Montclair. Back then in 1910, all five probably tasted about the same as they do now. Explore more in Europa : Gibraltar Monkeys - Gibraltar Travel and Holiday Information Guide Gibraltar Monkeys Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Gibraltar Monkeys – Barbary Macaques Your holiday in Gibraltar, or your relocation to the area of Gibraltar will bring you in contact with a few neighbors you may not know about. Unofficially called the National animal of Gibraltar, the Barbary Macaque is known the length and breadth of the area, and is in most cases, simply referred to as the Gibraltar monkey, or when spoken of in Spanish or the local language, are simply called monos. Scientists believe that the Barbary Macaque population, the proper name of the Monkeys of Gibraltar, the last of such a population on the continent of Europe (although they do thrive in North Africa) was introduced to the area of Gibraltar by the Moors who lived there between 700 and 1492.

The Gibraltar Monkeys were likely used as pets by the occupants, however there is another school of thought that believes that the original macaques were holdovers from a population that had spread over southern Europe up to 5 million years ago. One absolute certainty is that before the area became British territory, in the early 1700’s, the macaque population was present there.

This is known to be fact in that Portillo wrote, in about 1610 about those very Barbary Macaques, (Gibraltar Monkeys) saying “But now let us speak of other and living producers which in spite of the asperity of the rock still maintain themselves in the mountain, there are monkeys, who may be called the true owners, with possession from time immemorial, always tenacious of the dominion, living for the most part on the eastern side in high and inaccessible chasms.” In 1782 Ayala, another Spanish historian also wrote of the Gibraltar monkeys: “Neither the incursions of Moor, the Spaniards nor the English, nor cannon nor bomb of either have been able to dislodge them.” There are presently about 250 of the Gibraltar Monkeys, divided into five troops that live in the area that is known as the Upper Rock, and once in a while make brief forays into town that sometimes result in a bit of a fright of a little damage to personal property, but most of the locals believe that they are certainly worth the trouble as they are an integral part of Gibraltar and the Monkeys of Gibraltar certainly a draw to the tourists of Gibraltar.

Considered by many in the area, and vacationers to be the top attraction of Gibraltar, the Gibraltar monkeys attract attention where ever they are seen. One troop, which is called the Queen’s Gate group, living at Apes Den, are tame enough that they permit people to get exceptionally close to them, and will often come up to the tourists and quite often climb up on them. You are of course encouraged to use caution when this happens, as they are, regardless of how tame they appear, still wild animals and can bite or scratch if they are frightened or upset. The Gibraltar Monkeys, or Barbary Macaques have so much contact with so many, including both tourist and local alike, that their social groups began to break down over time and they became quite dependent upon human interaction to feed them, which encouraged their foraging in the town, and doing damage to both clothing and people, as well as to buildings and automobiles. This resulted in a law in Gibraltar that makes feeding the macaques punishable by law, so that if you are caught feeding the monkeys of Gibraltar you may net yourself a fine of up t £500.

The populace of Gibraltar Macaques was taken care of by the British Amry, and later on, by the Gibraltar Regiment, so that from about 1915 to 1991,they were under military supervision, who controlled their population, and appointed an officer who supervised their welfare, including food allowances of such items as fruit, vegetables and nuts, which they included in the budget that was made for the care of the monkeys. The officers also recorded the births of the macaques, and in proper military fashion, every single new infant was named when they were seen, many of them named after a governor, a brigadier or a higher ranking official. Any which were taken ill or were injured in any way were taken to the Royal Naval Hospital and in fact received treatment equal to that of any other enlisted person. With the withdrawal of the garrison, the Gibraltar Government received the responsibility for the care of the Macaques. Today things are a bit different and the monkeys are managed now by the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) and the monkeys medical and nutritional care is provided by the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic (GVC).

Each day the macaques receive a supply of fresh water, are given vegetables, fruit and seeds as supplement to the natural food resources that they forage, and are regularly caught and checked to assure their good health. With a nod to new technologies, today the animals are given a tattoo number and a micro chip as a means of identification. Once each year, a census is conducted to monitor reproductive success of the whole population, and to prevent what could prove to be a problem with the increasing population and the limited habitat of Gibraltar. The fact that the monkeys are one of the tourist attractions of Gibraltar aside, there is also a legend, or a belief that exists here which also impels the locals to care for the monkeys. The belief holds that as long as Barbary Macaques exist on Gibraltar, the territory will remain under British rule. In 1942 the population dwindled to just seven of the Gibraltar monkeys, and the British Prime Minister of the time, Sir Winston Churchill ordered that the numbers of the monkeys of Gibraltar be replenished immediately from both Morocco and Algeria due to this traditional belief.

For more photos and videos of the monkeys, visit: For something unusual, when it’s time to relax and unwind, to get away from the things that you need a break from, what better way to do that than a family vacation. What possible way could you better spend a vacation trip with your family than on an Africa safari tour. Share the love of the wild and the wildlife with your family on an adventure vacation. African safari tours are definitely a get away to remember. You simply can’t beat an African safari tour for the best way to show them a good time. Learn more about Gibraltar! Monkeys of Gibraltar - latimes YOU ARE HERE: LAT Home → Collections Monkeys of Gibraltar February 19, 1989 |NINO LO BELLO | Lo Bello is an American author and journalist living in Vienna. and GIBRALTAR — The Rock is a legend. Tarry a few hours or a few days and you will get a royal greeting from what may be the world's most unusual reception.

A committee of golden-brown macaque monkeys, which are known as the "apes of Gibraltar." As the only simians still roaming wild in Europe, Gibraltar's beloved mascots live among the gun emplacements in two separate packs on top of the windy limestone heights of the Rock (altitude: 1,400 feet). Friendly and playful by nature, the no-tail monkeys love tourists. Visitors feed them chocolates, candies, nuts, fruits and ice cream cones. Pose for Camera For half of a banana, you will always find one furry animal who'll give you a handshake or pose for camera shots. The monkeys are such big hits that one New York City tourist has been sending them packages of peanuts for many years. Several universities have dispatched research teams to Gibraltar to find out more about the monkeys, a type of social animal that lives in family and community units. Weighing about 60 pounds at maturity, most of them live to 15 years. Also, no scientist has yet been able to find out what happens to a dead monkey, since no one has ever found a body or a skeleton in the 1,000 years of monkey life on the Rock.

Numbering about 40, the monkeys can be reached by cable car up the west slope, a rather scary ride that nevertheless offers a stunning panorama of the bay and the Spanish town of Algeciras. If you wait until 4 p.m., the animals will come down from their heights to a lower perch (reachable by taxi) for their daily feeding (provided by the British Army with an allowance of 15 pence per head per day). They are fed the usual ration of bananas (which contain hidden vitamin pills), oatmeal, sweet potatoes and green vegetables. This supplements the wild berries, roots, seeds and insects that the monkeys eat on their own. Manners Are Bad However, the monkeys--supposedly pals of humans--are easily upset by quick movements or sudden noises. They also have bad manners. If they see something they want, they'll grab it. Just ask somebody who has tried to feed them peanuts one at a time only to have the bag rudely snatched away. There was one monkey, a female, who stole mirrors and took them to her lair, where she spent time admiring herself before smashing them to pieces.

During the height of the tourist season, when about 300,000 people visit, the monkeys also have been known to filch a purse or two and to run off with a camera. But don't strike back. Anyone who molests a Gibraltar monkey faces a prison term or a fine, for the Macaca sylvana species enjoys the protection of the British government through a special keeper, a sergeant-at-arms whose responsibility it is to see that they are nurtured and kept in good health. This latter responsibility includes giving the monkeys whiskey when they catch colds--a most delicate maneuver since the frolicsome animals can't be corraled so easily. Churchill Paid Visit Even Winston Churchill, though beset in 1944 with crises on all fronts, engaged in some important monkey business at the Rock. While on his way to the Tehran Conference, Winnie stopped at the bastion (2 1/4 square miles in area) to see how the frisky quadrupeds were getting along.

Shocked to hear that their numbers had dwindled to under 10, he let it be known that the survival of the apes of Gibraltar was a matter of concern to the Prime Minister and that their number thereafter was to be kept above 24. There's a saying among Gibraltar's 30,000 inhabitants (most of whom are British subjects), that if the monkeys ever disappear, then the British will also go away. Thus, whenever a baby simian is born, the army records the birth with a flourish befitting the glory of the British Empire. The Barbary monkey is so held in esteem by British officialdom that when the first decimal coin--in the denomination of 25 new pence--was put out in 1971, it contained a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and Gibraltar's monkey on the reverse side. -- -- -- Many cruise lines stop at Gibraltar as a port of call. British Airways has flights from London (it takes about two hours). From Madrid there is a weekly flight on British Airways. The expensive Rock Hotel has 160 rooms, with balconies that overlook the sea, most with private bath.

The Caleta Palace Hotel, with 200 rooms, stands on a cliff overhanging the village of Catalan Bay. Also expensive. The Montarik Hotel (87 rooms) has a sun terrace with a fine view of sea and sunsets and is less expensive. As for restaurants, La Bayuca, Spanish specialties; Winston's, English fare, and the Mermaid, seafood, are excellent, though pricey. MORE: The Rock of Gibraltar - All You Need to Know Before You Go - TripAdvisor The Rock of Gibraltar Is this activity accessible without advanced planning or reservations? Yes Is this attraction popular with tourists? Yes Does this activity require advanced planning, ticketing or reservations? Yes Is this attraction pet friendly? Yes Is this an outdoor attraction or activity? Yes Would this be a good cold day activity? Yes Is this attraction a "must-see" location? Yes Would this be a good hot day activity? Yes No Unsure Does this attraction require above average amounts of physical activity (long walks, climbs, stairs or hikes)? Yes Is this attraction good for couples? Yes Map updates are paused. Zoom in to see updated info.

Reset zoom Gibraltar's Top of the Rock Cable Car Ticket More Info Terrible “A breath-taking scenery from the top of the rock of Gibraltar” A unique geographical anomaly in the south of Spain, this rock emerges from out of nowhere forming a solid formidable viewpoint and shield. Because of its strategic location... read more Reviewed 2 days ago 4,169 Reviews from our TripAdvisor Community Which Gibraltar hotels are on sale? dd/mm/yyyy dd/mm/yyyy Sponsored links * Read reviews that mention: All reviews cable car day trip taxi tour amazing views barbary apes la linea from spain st michaels cave siege tunnels moorish castle be careful walked down on foot walk up airport runway monkeys rock border bags passport Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Start your review of The Rock of Gibraltar Click to rate “A breath-taking scenery from the top of the rock of Gibraltar” Reviewed 2 days ago NEW A unique geographical anomaly in the south of Spain, this rock emerges from out of nowhere forming a solid formidable viewpoint and shield. Because of its strategic location, Gibraltar has gone through waves of changes throughout its history. Helpful?

“Amazing” Reviewed 2 days ago NEW via mobile Amazing experience a must see to any visitor a guided tour is a must a great way to see the sights we went in January I can imagine what it wud be like in the summer Amazing Helpful? “A must see - but not in high season” Reviewed 2 days ago NEW The views are amazing. Choose your tour guide carefully. We would suggest visiting in low season as otherwise you will be sat in traffic and the masses will make your efforts to enjoy the vista very limited. Our guide was excellent. Take time to enjoy the various locations on The Rock and if the weather is kind you will be... More Helpful? The Rock of Gibraltar The Rock of Gibraltar Pillar of Hercules As a rock on the seashore he standeth firm, and the dashing of the waves disturbeth him not. He raiseth his head like a tower on a hill, and the arrows of fortune drop at his feet. In the instant of danger, the courage of his heart sustaineth him; and the steadiness of his mind beareth him out.

- Aristotle Exploring the Rock by Jean Allen It's one of the world's most familiar landmarks: a huge limestone rock towering above the fringe of buildings, people and traffic around it, facing a narrow expanse of water that separates Europe from Africa. Like most visitors to the British enclave of Gibraltar, I saw it on a day trip from nearby Spain. That's enough time to see the Barbary apes, ascend The Rock by cable car, shop at Marks & Spencer and other very British shops along Main St, have a pub lunch, explore a big cave where Neanderthals once lived, gaze across the Strait of Gibraltar at Africa, 24 kilometres away, and explore narrow congested streets looking at an odd collection of Georgian, Victorian, Italian and Moorish architecture. We start out in the morning in Ronda, Spain, and ride along zigzagging mountain roads high above the Mediterranean Sea, past picturesque "white villages" in rocky hills brightened by stands of yellow broom. At the border town of La Linea, we leave our big bus, which cannot navigate the colony's winding, hilly streets, and board a smaller one to see Gibraltar's 10.35 square kilometres.

The place is so compact that, to reach town, we have to drive across the airport runway. The Rock is the place to spend the most time on a day trip. This mini-mountain, 6.5km long, 800 metres wide and 417m high, is one of the ancient Pillars of Hercules that marked the end of the known world; the other pillar is a mountain across the strait in Morocco. In myth, Hercules straddled the strait, one foot on each continent. Heading for the sloping road up The Rock, we stop at Europa Point, Gibraltar's southern tip, to visit the lighthouse and see a mosque built with private funds to salute the Arabs of the Gulf War. From Europa Point, and from viewing points on the mountain, we can see dolphins cavorting in the strait; dolphin and whale-watching cruises are available. The Bay of Algeciras is a beautiful sight, and Algeciras to the west is a busy container-cargo port. Our guide, Henry, tells us the strait is a channel 58km long that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The Rock, Gibraltar's most popular sightseeing spot.

It is home to the Barbary apes, tail-less, cinnamoncoloured macaques, Europe's only wild apes, that tease and tolerate visitors, hoping for handouts. Halfway up The Rock, Ape's Den at Queen's Gate is the best place to view Gibraltar's Barbary apes. These tail-less, cinnamon-coloured macaques are native to Morocco's Atlas mountains and were brought here by the British in the 18th century. About 160 of them live in Gibraltar. We stop to visit Europe's only wild apes, who tease and tolerate visitors, hoping for handouts. Brash and bold, they take treats from our hands and allow us to take their pictures. Visitors are cautioned not to touch them; they may bite if frightened or annoyed. They are free to roam, and the bigger of two packs stays on the mountain's upper cliffs while a smaller pack is at Ape's Den. The rock is full of tunnels and caves. Military sieges of the late 18th century led to the excavation of a honeycomb of more than 50km of tunnels, and some sections can be visited by prior arrangement.

Most visitors settle for a visit to St Michael's Cave, an immense cavern with the huge main chamber called Cathedral Cave used as an auditorium for concerts. During the American Revolution, France and Spain decided that while the British were distracted by the colonists' rebellion, they could take back Gibraltar. They mounted a siege that lasted from 1779 to early 1783. But the tunnels enabled the British to move cannons to points on the mountain's steep face. Some of the cannons are still there. The fastest way to the summit is a 6-minute cable car ride from the station in the Grand Parade at the end of downtown's Main St. After descending from The Rock, we schmooze in the downtown pedestrian zone filled with shoppers and people snacking at pubs or sidewalk cafes. British pounds and Spanish pesetas are accepted as currency. The 30,000 residents speak English, Spanish or a blend that our guide calls Spanglish. Gibraltar is a pint-size melting pot, a mix of English, Moorish, Genoese, Portuguese, Spanish, Jewish, Maltese and Indian. It has been a British territory since the early 18th century.

The Battle of Trafalgar was fought near The Rock in 1805, it was home to an Allied Naval fleet in World War II, and a focal point for the invasion of North Africa. The border was closed for 13 years beginning in 1969 as Spain's dictator Franco tried to regain The Rock. Today, its borders open, visitors can arrive on a flight from England, by ferry from Tangier, Morocco or by road. Those who want to stay a while will find good beaches, bird-watching, a gambling casino, plenty of restaurants and museums. - KRT Source: Fact File Getting there: The bus station at La Linea in Spain is only 5 minutes from the border. Buses do not run on Sundays, so you must walk the 1.5kms from the border, across the airport runway, into town. Best time to go: Anytime. Visas: Not required for New Zealanders. Currency: The Gibraltar pound is the same as pound Sterling.

Source: The Dominion Tuesday 3 April 2001 Mystery of Churchill's WWII Monkeys Solved A Gibraltar macaque by Robert Roy Britt If you've ever been to Gibraltar, the Mediterranean rock run by the British, you know about the monkeys. Some 200 of them run wild on the tiny peninsula, and they're the only free-ranging monkeys in Europe. They love to climb on tourists' heads and will gladly accept a snack. What you didn't know is where they came from. Scientists haven't even known for sure. Gibraltar, a tiny British territory jutting out from southern Spain, sits at the strategically crucial pinched entrance to the Mediterranean. During World War II, there were as few as 3 macaques left on the rocky outpost, historians say. There was a legend back then that Britain would lose the territory if the monkeys died out. So in 1942, Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered their numbers be replenished. Details were kept secret. Many scientists suspected the imported macaques came from Morocco. Some thought they might also have come from Algeria. In a new study, researchers analyzed the monkey's DNA to learn that they are descended from macaques in both Morocco and Algeria.

The isolation of the Gibraltar monkeys since the war mimics a phenomenon in nature caused by forest clearing and other pressures. "The Gibraltar colony of Barbary macaques provided an ideal example of genetic isolation of a small population, which is now a regular occurrence among wild primate populations because of forest fragmentation," said Robert Martin, a primatologist and Field Museum Provost. "To our surprise, we found a relatively high level of genetic variability in the Gibraltar macaques. This is now explained by our conclusion that the population was founded with individuals from two genetically distinct populations in Algeria and Morocco." That still leaves a mystery of where the original Gibraltar macaques came from. Some scientists think they were brought by the Moors, who occupied Spain between 711 and 1492. Others figure they were a remnant of macaques that lived throughout Southern Europe 5.5 million years ago and possibly, some speculate, as recently as the 1800s in Spain. The research was detailed Monday in the early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Robert Roy Britt is a senior writer for LiveScience.com Source: livescience.com 25 April 2005 photo credit Robert Martin, the Field Museum For more articles relating to Money, Politics and Law including globalisation, tax avoidance, consumerism, credit cards, spending, contracts, trust, stocks, fraud, eugenics and more click the "Up" button below to take you to the page on "How Many Countries in the World?" Clicking "Up" from there will take you to the Index for this section. See All Videos MACAQUES IN THEIR ‘TRUE LIGHT’ In this clip one can get a glimpse of what the Barbary macaques get up to during the last hour of daylight when they have retired away from their tourist hotspots to their roosting place and pretty much wait around for the sun to set. This is the Royal Anglian Way group which during the day hangs around the area of St Michael’s Cabin. Today the matriarch, ‘Dot’ had decided to roost between Spur and O’Haras Battery, which is where I found them.

For me it is a great privilege to be able to share these intimate moments with this group I have got to know for the best part of ten years. These animals know I do not come to feed them. Equally they know I am not a threat. Consequently they are largely indifferent towards me, which allows me to blend in amongst them and observe them behaving naturally generally without them reacting to my presence. Still, I am for all intents and purposes on a precipice. One false move in this uneven terrain and the macaques would get into defensive mode and be onto you in a flash. As you can appreciate today the group seemed particularly serene so I had no qualms getting in amongst them. Given all the negative press (most of it deservedly one has to say) the macaques have been receiving of late MT – Gib thought it was important for viewers to see these animals in their ‘true light’ 44 10 URBAN MACAQUES These clips represent incursions by macaques into Laguna, North View Terrace and Bassadone by the Middle Hill splinter pack and Trafalgar area by the Apes Den pack.

Crucially all these were taken yesterday within a one hour period (the day a poor grandmother was bitten by a macaque at the southern end of Main Street). I have already offered an explanation in my earlier post today which may explain why the innocent by-passer was involved in the ‘unprovoked attack’. However, once again whilst not attempting to justify the macaques’ ever increasing urbanization, MT-Gib views the macaques as ‘BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS’ that serve to highlight our inability as a people/community/Government to get our act together in simple things such as 1.) disposing of our household refuse effectively when the bin stores in our Housing Estates do not even have doors, let alone lockable ones, or 2.) organizing a joint operation with the RGP to ensure that the macaque are not fed in town, i.e. the macaques are the scapegoats (and I say this with all due respect and without wanting to demean the seriousness of the bite that Rose Vinales had to go through). 26 15 MALE-MALE BARBARY MACAQUE AGGRESSIVE CONFLICT This clip demonstrates a typical conflict between 2 intra-group rival male Barbary macaques.

Male ‘A’ is clearly distressed at the actions of a second male (male ‘B’). Male A manifests his disapproval by intentionally displaying his teeth in a menacing gesture (please note that this is not a casual yawn). It is also interesting to note that there was no prior ‘round mouth threat’ but rather male A displays his teeth from the onset announcing that he is about to charge if male B continues to act defiant. Being November the macaques are currently at the beginning of their ~3 month mating season and it is very common for males to get into disputes during this time over the consortship of females which are coming into oestrous. Significantly male A glances to his right just before charging. He does this to get reassurance from other adult male allies. No sooner has the aggressive bout proper began, 2 other adult males (C & D) join the dispute. Significantly, males C & D, whilst remaining fairly impartial are on the side (literally) of male A, i.e. facing/confronting male B.

For all the commotion that ensues and rather loud vocalizations by both the combatants and onlookers there are no bites and the conflict can best be described by a to’ing and fro’ing between two very evenly matched opponents with both males trying but not succeeding to grab hold of the other. Whilst on face value there is no clear winner the apparent backing of male A by males C & D persuades male B to retreat. Soon after male B grabs hold of an infant and placing it on his back is capable of fleeing the scene unscathed. This ‘use’ of infants by male Barbary macaques during these tense situations is known as ‘agonistic buffering’ as this behaviour offers the supplanted male a safeguard against imminent future attacks.

It is thought that this action offers protection to the ‘holder’ of the infant as the other male does not want to risk hurting the infant because if he does all the females will turn against him decreasing his reproductive success © Monkey Talk – Gibraltar (Brian Gomila) 47 Biting Monkeys - Review of The Rock of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, Europe - TripAdvisor Review of The Rock of Gibraltar Gibraltar's Top of the Rock Cable Car Ticket See more tours on Viator “Biting Monkeys” Reviewed October 9, 2008 I loved the tour we had of the Rock, we took one of the many mini bus tours up. We stopped first at Hercules Pillars and had some great views of Africa across the Starights. We then headed up to the caves, as we approached the monkeys decended on us. Our guide told us that these ones were know as the Alibaba apes as they pinched things and not to entertain them. He informed us there were more friendlier ones higher up the rock. The caves were fantastic the pictures we took look amazing. We then carried up to the top of the rock to a feeding area for the monkeys.

We had no warning, were told that the monkeys would come and sit on you but not to feed them (Although the tour guide proceeded to feed them M&M's through the bus window!!) I walked to a nearby wall to look over and a monkey jumped onto my shoulder. Just as my Partner was taking our photo it reached inside my top. I went to remove it's hand and it immeadiately sunk it's rather large sharp teeth into my hand. I was left in a lot of pain, bleeding and bruised. The Guide's advice was "oh they don't like it when you raise your hand to them" I didn't I just tried to remove it!!! He then expected my 9 year old to have his photo taken with a smaller one on his shoulder - I point blankly refused to let him. I have been assured there is no danger of rabies etc from the bite but it is still painful and will probably scar So STAY AWAY FROM THE MONKEYS!!!! Helpful? Ask holiday_girl0 about The Rock of Gibraltar This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

4,165 reviews from our community Visitor rating “The Rock on The Rock” Reviewed September 29, 2008 Three nights at the Rock Hotel. An oasis in a busy world - it was for us. Despite a power cut after an unseasonably early thunderstorm, there was a hot breakfast, and hot water in the shower. One of the few places I have been that I would go back to. The room was large and comfortable, and the beds comfortable also (rare, as I am tall). The food is good, the service is slow - but you're not supposed to be in a hurry. The view from the hotel is impressive, if you enjoy watching the ships in the bay, and Africa is off to the left (too far for detail). Only slight niggle - the breakfast staff aren't awake! Helpful? Ask Mr_Pete56 about The Rock of Gibraltar This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

BFeldman “The Barbary Apes are a Must See” Reviewed August 12, 2008 If you are used to only seeing caged animals, walking around the Upper Rock and interacting with the golden tailless monkeys will be a trip highlight! We laughed and laughed as they jumped on cars and people. To get an idea of what you're in for, go to YouTube and search for "Barbary Apes of Gibraltar." I can't imagine anyone not enjoying the opportunity to meet and photograph these playful creatures. We were there last week with a Royal Caribbean cruise, and took their "Upper Rock Walking Tour" excursion. Lots of fun. Helpful? Ask BFeldman about The Rock of Gibraltar This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. texantasha “Great half day hike or visit by cable-car” Reviewed July 17, 2008 Spent 2 days in Gib. On the first day, went with the easy option and took the cable-car there and back. It was about 18 euro's per person, if I remember rightly? Ride took about 5-6 minutes in each direction with stunning views of the bay once you reach the top.

It was a clear day and we could see over to Morocco and the Atlas Mountains. Almost immediately upon reaching the top you can spot the apes. We were warned by the guide in the cable-car that they bite quite ferociously, so we were happy to view from a distance! On the second day I decided to challenge myself and walk up it. It took only about one hour from the bottom of the hill to reach the top. I accessed via Jew's gate and had to pay just less than 1 Euro for the privilege of walking up it. The person manning the gate has tiny maps of the mountain - make sure to ask for one (they're free).The return walk took about 45 minutes. I did manage to go up a different route to the way back, which was nice for diversity. I stopped in at the little shop near St Michael's caves (on way up mountain) - it appeared a rip-off. Leave your shopping until you are down in the town-centre for souvenirs etc. It was a very well paved road for the most part (you will share it with multiple mini-bus tours) and on occasion the road is narrow and you will have to stand aside.

There are plenty of vantage points to take good photo's. If you have the time and inclination, I would definitely recommend walking up the Rock. If you get too tired to walk back down you have the option of buying a ticket back on the cable-car. Helpful? “The rock rocks!” Reviewed May 18, 2008 For me, the best to visit the rock and explore all its attractions is buying a tour and you can get all the places, because you are not allowed to enter in the natural park with your own car. We departed from Trafalgar Cemetery and our tour cost 25€ and took about 2 ou 3 hours and, I'm not sure, but the price included entry in Great Siege Tunnels ( huge tunnels inside the rock), and in the caves. The taxi was a 9-place van and the guide, Tony, was really friendly. He stopped the van in strategic places and so he gave us time to visit the attractions and take pictures. My favourite part was with the apes: they get really close to you (one jumped to my head!

and another one entered the taxi and took a seat, really) and they are friendly, but the guide warned us that they are animals and they live in the wild, so be careful and don't feed them, because they have plenty of food. Helpful? Barbary Apes, Gibraltar 153 Insider Tips, Photos and Reviews Gibraltar and Bolonia Day Trip from Cádiz "Gibraltar is a British overseas territory under United Kingdom administration but claimed by the Kingdom of Spain. Gibraltar macaque (also known as ""Barbary ape"") was probably introduced by the Arabs from North Africa and is the only wild primate that they usually are agglomerated in the area of the protected area of the Rock. A superstition holds that if the monkeys leave the Rock so will the British so they are maintained by the local government.Bolonia beach is considered one of the five most beautiful beaches in Spain its main attraction is its dune. With over 30 metres high and 200 metres wide the Bolonia's dune and stands out within the huge system of dunes to which it belongs.

Located in the Bolonia Inlet Gibraltar and Bolonia Day Trip from Cádiz "Gibraltar is a British overseas territory under United Kingdom administration but claimed by the Kingdom of Spain. Gibraltar macaque (also known as ""Barbary ape"") was probably introduced by the Arabs from North Africa and is the only wild primate that they usually are agglomerated in the area of the protected area of the Rock. A superstition holds that if the monkeys leave the Rock so will the British so they are maintained by the local government.Bolonia beach is considered one of the five most beautiful beaches in Spain its main attraction is its dune. With over 30 metres high and 200 metres wide the Bolonia's dune and stands out within the huge system of dunes to which it belongs. Located in the Bolonia Inlet Half-Day Private City Tour of Marbella and Puerto Banús "You will be picked up from your hotel or place of your choice and taken on this private excursion of Marbella and Puerto Banús. You will then be able to enjoy and admire the great architecture and sights of Marbella and Puerto Banus as well as most important and well-known monuments.

The itinerary will be organized to suit your needs.Some of the monuments sights and activities:Old Town (Barrio Alto and Barrio Nuevo) Plaza de los Naranjos Chapel of St. John of God - Marbella Royal Hospital of Mercy Historic extension (botanic garden) Marbella’s Golde much more... Your private official tour guide and private luxury vehicle with chauffeur are at your disposal during the tour to help you enjoy the areas to the fullest and to get the most out of your experience in Marbella and Puerto Banús.

Question: What kind of monkey would you find on the 'Rock of Gibraltar?
Answer: Barbary Ape